Snowplow



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SNOWPLOW Filed Aug. l, 1930 Aug. 8, 1933. G. c. soULE ET AL Allg 8, l933- G. c. SOULE Er AL 1,921,374

SNOWPLOW Filed Aug. l, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 N vE/v Toms'.

Jahn noodluuy. Georg@ 0.15'oale. 5y l Patented Aug. 8, 1933v sNoWPLoW George C. Soule and John B. Woodbury, South Portland, Maine, assignors` to Maine Steel Products Companylortland, Maine, a'Corpo.-

ration of All/Iaiule `App1-rcauon August 1,1930.k serial No. 472,238

On account of the extensive andincreasing use of the motorized Vehicle during all. seasons of the year it has become imperative, throughout the snow belt in the northern portions of the country, to keep the highways clear of snow during the wintermonths.` o'

On occasions when there is but alight or moderately heavy fall of snow it is of particular advantage to employsnow-removing apparatus which is extremely mobile or adaptable of rapid locomotion over the roads, and for 'this purpose a light type of snow plow propelled by-'a inotor'truck Oilers apreferable combination'for the reason that a greater stretch of road-bed can be cleared in a given time and at a greatly reduced expense than is possible with' the more cumbersome heavy tractor-driven' piece of apparatus. y

Truck plows have previouslybeen constructed on one of three principles; either to push from thefront axle of the truck, 'or to push from the chassis frame back of the iront wheels through push members which pass under the front axle, or to pushfrom the'front end of the' chassis frame with balancing members rigid with the nose of the plow passing under the front axle and vspaced from the chassis back of theiront wheels by spacing` members which'cause ytheplow to maintain its level positionwhile pushed from above its center of gravity.A Y Y.

In the rst instance no part ofthe plow comes back of fthefront wheels with the resultcthat there `is nothing except the body or chassis of the truck to support the thrust of' the rearend of the wing. The variability of design of bodies makes any attachment to them for supporting the thrust of the wing complex and correspondingly liable to breakage and held trouble.V Supporting the thrustof the rear end of the wingY from the chassis means that the elevation or" the wing is limited because ii lifted much above the level of the chassis frame the wing tends to fold in from snow pressure while undue strains on the chassis frame result' from lowering the wing much below it due to the angle of the push arm. i

In the second and third type instancedabove, the distance between the front axle: and the ground is definitely limited. enough either to push or to balance must in order to secure strength take up appreciable space below the level of the iront axle.

We have previously employed elements which we designate as balance bars, the function of which is to hold the mold boards on a substantially even keel, or in other words, to prevent their buckling or jack-killing which, in the snow plow as ordinarily constructed is occasioned by the nose'of the plow riding an obstacle or by its falling into a depression in the road bed.

Members strong n A By employing these balance barsy the mold 'boards rise and fall in an are strucky from Ia point coincident with that from which the outer lends of the barsv swing; and as they extend rearwardly fora considerable distance the radius of this arc is long and the surfaces of themold boards present, for all intents and purposes, a contant angle to the snow when the plow is in service. They, furthermore, hold the mold boards more rigidly to the work when plowing and prevent much'of the-.side slat or shimmying" characteristic of rordinary plow construction. The insertion of a member of substantial size under- `neath the front axle tends to cause trouble for 'until the members underneath the front axle contact with the axle and as they must be some distance `oi theY ground to prevent wearing by friction with the ground theirmovement is comparatively limited. Second-when deep snow is encountered and truck and plow penetrate -until stopped by the resistance of the snowthe front' wheels have a'tendency to sink in when attempting .to back out. As soon as they sink in the front axle being,l lowered thereby comes in contact with balancing or push members underneath it andthe front end of the truck becomes supported onthebalancing members and by the full area of the plow-resting on the snowwhich usually means great trouble in shoveling out under the plow or llingin under the wheels in order lto back out andfstart again.

This is peculiarly apt to happen in trucks which drive onall four wheels as the power inthe front wheelstends to spin them and irequentlyonlytwo or threefrevolutions are necessary to make the chassis dig a1 deep enough holeV so that not only is all front wheel traction ylost, but the rear wheels are faced with the duty ofv hauling out not only thek front wheels but the, front wheels rid- Y ing on the innersurface of the plow on the snow.

To obviatethe diiiculty justrecited, Vwe have, incur presentr invention, applied balance bars tothe outer portions of the snow plowwhere they serve as thelateral members ofthe plow frame; and by extending them for a considerable distance into the space between the mold boardsto which they are y rigidly secured,` and rearwardly where. they. are joined by a substantially constructed cross member, a more stable and effective control over the movements ofr the forward end of the snow plow is procured.

These outside side beams furnish substantial means of supporting the thrust of the rear end of the `wing lacking in the rst type of plow in-r stanced above, together with the means of vpushing the balancing members,` as in the second and third types instanced above, without any member under the front axle so that the plow `isfree to sizes of motor trucks with the least amount of effort required in making connection of the parts.

To obtain a clearer understanding of the import of our invention reference should be had to the description found in the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

. Fig. `l is a planview of a snow plow equipped with `apparatus according to our present invention.

Fig. 2'is a rear end elevation of the apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a side 'elevation of the parts shown in Fig. .1.

Fig. .4 -is a perspective View showing the parts involved in the suspension of the balance bars from. the .frame of the'motor truck, and

Fig. is a fragmentary plan View of Yan alternative method of motivating the snow plow.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the mold boards of the snow plow, 2 the wings, 3 the shoes and 4 the superstructure in general, the various 'devices vfor hoisting and operating the plow not being shown.

Fixedto each of the mold 1boards l is a beam 5, the forward end extending into the space between the former and secured thereto'at a short distance above `the bottom of the plow.. The rearward portion of the beam 5 is slightly inclined Aupwardly as the rear end is approached, as seen in Fig. 3.

These beams, one on each side of the plow, constitute thebalance bars for the mold boards and also serve as the lower lateral members or sills vof the plow.

When the `plow is in service the truck is -disposed between'the two balance bars and its frame 6 (the only part of the truck shown) makes connection with a cross member?? which operates in a vertical slot 8. This permits of more or less yieldability, vertically, between the truck frame and the moldboards.

In Fig. 4 is shown the arrangement of the parts employed to suspend the rearward ends of the balance bars. A T-bar 9 having holes l0 in its finner leg is secured preferably by electric welding 'to the inner side of leach balance bar and a transverse member 1l having yoked ends l2 makes connection with the two plates by means of the pins 13 which may operate in either one of the holes a plurality of which latter are provided for the purpose of locating the member l1 in that set of holes which best accommodates Vitself to the height ofthe particular Vtruck frame being employed with the snow plow.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the transverse vmember l1 is hollow and the yokes 12 are adjustable in the ends thereof, so as to accommodate the balance bars to truck frames of varying widths, .the endwise adjustment of the yokes being .held in any suitable manner, as b the pins 121.

VA short section of channel 14 is secured to each of the truck frame members 6 by any approved method, preferably by the use of U-bolts l5 which .provides for .longitudinal adjustment of the channels along the frames.

To the legs of the channel is welded a flat bar 16 pivotally mounted on which over the bolt 17 is a link 18 having at its lower end a hole 19 through which operates the transverse member 11. y

It will be seen that the member ll acts to tie the two balance bars together transversely of the snow plow structure and that the two links 18 revoluble on the member 11 suspend the latter from the two respective frame members of the truck.

To maintain centralization of the truck within the space between the balance bars, turnbuckles 20 associated with links 21 are employed, the yoked ends 22 and 23 of each turnbuckle being secured to the leg 161 of the bar 16 and the lug 24, respectively, .the lug 24 being welded to the balance bar.

We may elect to propel the snow plow by a method illustrated in Fig. 5, in which case the forward end of the truck is not directly connected for driving purposes to the mold board structure, but chains 25 are employed which operate from the truck frames to the transverse member .11, which, in this instance becomes a draw-bar as wellas a transverse cross-tie between the balance bar units.

Fig. 5 also shows the inner end of the wing push-arm 26 `arranged on the slide 27 sothat Vertical movement of the inner end of the arm may be provided on the upright memberl of the superstructure of the plow. This permits of the lateral thrust of the wing being taken by the push-arm normally, and is useful when making Y shoulders on high banks of snow.

The truck now becomes an independent factor in the complete equipment, serving only as a propelling agent. The wings being wholly detached from any connection with the truck operate from the superstructure elements which, in turn, are supported by the balance bars, an arrangement peculiarly advantageous with respect to installation and operation and particularly so in the matter of expeditious assembly of truck and plow.

The apparatus herein setv forth provides a strong, stable and eiciently operating combination both as to the nose and the lateral wing pressures.

What we therefore claim and desire to secure l by Letters Patent isz- 1. In a snow plow equipment, a plow nose, means for loosely connecting the nose with a truck frame end, rearwardly extending bars laterally of the plow nose, attaching links, means for pivotally mounting said links on the truck frame sides, a transverse member pivotally engaged by said links, and a connection between the transverse member and the rearwardly extending bars.

2. In a snow plow equipment, a plow nose, means for loosely connecting the nose with a truck frame endyrearwardly extending bars on the plow nose and adapted to be disposed laterally of a truck frame, lateral attaching links, means for pivotally Amounting said links on the truck frame, a transverse member pivotally engaged by said links, and connection between the transverse member and the rearwardly extending bars.

3. In a snow plow equipment, a plow nose, means for loosely connecting the nose with a truck frame end, rearwardly extending bars on the plow nose and adapted to be disposed laterally of a truck frame, lateral attaching links, a longitudinally extensible transverse memberpivthe plow nose and adapted to be disposed later-` ally of a truck iframe, lateral attaching links,

means for pivotally mounting said links on the truck frame, a longitudinally extensible transverse member pivotally engaged by said links, and connection between the transverse member and the rearwardly extending bars.

5. In a snow plow equipment, a plow nose, means for loosely connecting the nose with a truck frame end, rearwardly extending bars laterally of the plow nose, and disposable laterally of a truck connected to said nose, bar attaching links, means for pivotally mounting said links on the' truck frame, and connection between the links and the rearwardly extending bars.

6. In a snow plow equipment, a plownose, means for loosely connecting the nose with the forward ends of a truck frame, shoes at the rear of the nose, balance bars on the nose and extending rearwardly of the nose shoes, connections adapted to be pivotally mounted on a truck frame at one end, and a pivotal connection between the other ends and the nose bars.

7. In a snow plow equipment, a plow nose, means for loosely connecting the nose with the forward ends of a truck frame, shoes at the rear of the nose, balance bars on the nose and extending rearwardly of the nose shoes, bar connections adapted to be pivotally mounted on va truck frame at one end, and a pivotal connection between the other ends and the nose bars, and adjustable flexible connections between the nose bars and connectible with the trucl; for laterally centering them relative thereto.

9. In a snow'plow, the combination with a plow nose. and a truck frame connected at its forward end with said nose, of a pair of spaced balance bars extending rearwardly r :from said nose outside of the line of the side members of the truck frame and defining lateral frame members disposed outwardly of. the truck wheels and within which the truck frame is enclosed, and means for supporting said balance bars from the iear end of said truck irame,"comprising a transverse member pivotally secured at its ends to said balance bars, and a pair of supporting members carrying said transverse member and pivotally secured at their upper ends to said truck frame. i

l0. In a snow plow, the combination with ak plow nose, and a truck frame connected at its forward end with said nose, of a pair of spacedv balance bars extending rearwardly from said nose outside of the line of the side members of the truck frame and dening lateral frame members disposed outwardly of the truck wheels and within which the truck frame is enclosed, means for adjustably supporting said balance bars from the rear end of said truck frame, and means for maintainingcentralization of said truck frame within the space between said bars, said centralization maintaining means including longitudinally extensible laterally disposed links pivotally fastened at their inner and outer ends to said truck frame and balance bars, respectively, and I said supporting means including a transverse member pivotally secured at its ends to said balance bars, and a pair of supporting members Vcarrying' said transverse member and pivotally v secured at their upper ends to said truck frame.

11. In a snow plow, the combination with a plow nose and a truck frame connected at its forward endwith said plow nose, of a pair of spaced balance bars extending rearwardly from said plow nose voutside of the line of thev side members of the truck frame and defining lateral frame members disposed outwardly of the truck wheels and within which the truck frame is adapted to ber enclosed, a pair of vertically disposed anchoring members carried by said balance bars, a cross member adjustably attachable to said anchoring members at various selected heights vertically thereof, a pair of vertically disposed attaching members mounted on the truck frame, and a pair of suspension members pivoted at their upper ends to said attaching members of the truck frame and at their lower ends carrying said cross member.

12. In a snow plow, the combination with a plow nose and a truck framer connected at its forward end with said plow nose, of a pair of spaced balance bars Vsupporting said superstructure and extending rearwardly from said plow nose outside of the line of the side members of Vthe truck Vframe and defining lateral frame members disposed outwardly of the truck wheels and within which the truck frame is adapted to be enclosed, a pair of vertically disposed anchoring members carried by said balance bars, a cross member adjustably attachable to said anchoring members at various selected heights vertically thereof, a pair of vertically disposed attaching members mounted on the truck frame, a pair of laterally extending longitudinally extensible link members pivotally connected at their inner ends to said attaching members on the truck frame and at their outer ends to the balance bars, and a pair of suspension members pivoted at their upper ends to said Vattaching members on the truck frame and at their lower ends carrying said cross member.

frame, and means for adjustably mounting the rear ends of said wings on said balance bars and for takingv up the thrust of said wings, comprising slides mounted for vertical travel on said superstructure, and push arms disposed between said slides and wings.

GEORGE C'. SOULE. JOHN B. WOODBURY. 

